Yusuf Tuggar emphasizes Nigeria's capacity issues and criticizes US visa policies as coercive.
Nigeria Declines US Deportation Requests Amid Visa Restrictions
Nigeria Declines US Deportation Requests Amid Visa Restrictions
Amid pressure from the US, Nigeria's foreign minister asserts the country cannot accept Venezuelan deportees, citing internal challenges.
Nigeria has met recent pressures from the Trump administration with firm resistance, as Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar stated that the country will not accept Venezuelan deportees from the US. In a televised interview on Channels TV, Tuggar articulated that Nigeria already grapples with significant domestic issues, describing the acceptance of the proposed 300 Venezuelan deportees as unreasonable, given the country's population of over 230 million.
The minister's comments come in the wake of heightened tensions, following the US Department of State's announcement to impose stringent visa restrictions on Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, limiting non-immigrant visas to a single entry valid for merely three months. This measure aligns with the US strategy of "global reciprocity realignment," according to the State Department.
Tuggar also noted that the issue of Venezuelan deportees had been manipulated by the US as a leverage tool, stressing that it is unfair for Nigeria to accommodate foreign prisoners while also managing its own socio-economic challenges. He pointed out that threats of increased tariffs on nations collaborating with the Brics alliance—an economic coalition of developing countries including Brazil, Russia, and India—were part of the US's broader strategy to exert pressure.
Despite the tensions, Tuggar hinted at Nigeria’s interest in negotiating mutually beneficial agreements with the US, particularly in the energy sector, where Nigeria possesses natural resources vital for American technology industries. He affirmed that Nigeria is actively engaged in discussions with the US to address outstanding differences and foster a constructive diplomatic relationship.
Moreover, reports suggest that the Trump administration has reached out to other African leaders, encouraging them to accept deportees in situations where their home countries refuse to take them back. However, officials from Liberia have denied receiving such requests from the US, raising questions about the diplomatic dynamics at play. As this situation evolves, Nigeria maintains a focus on prioritizing its national interests amid increasing pressure from international counterparts.
The minister's comments come in the wake of heightened tensions, following the US Department of State's announcement to impose stringent visa restrictions on Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, limiting non-immigrant visas to a single entry valid for merely three months. This measure aligns with the US strategy of "global reciprocity realignment," according to the State Department.
Tuggar also noted that the issue of Venezuelan deportees had been manipulated by the US as a leverage tool, stressing that it is unfair for Nigeria to accommodate foreign prisoners while also managing its own socio-economic challenges. He pointed out that threats of increased tariffs on nations collaborating with the Brics alliance—an economic coalition of developing countries including Brazil, Russia, and India—were part of the US's broader strategy to exert pressure.
Despite the tensions, Tuggar hinted at Nigeria’s interest in negotiating mutually beneficial agreements with the US, particularly in the energy sector, where Nigeria possesses natural resources vital for American technology industries. He affirmed that Nigeria is actively engaged in discussions with the US to address outstanding differences and foster a constructive diplomatic relationship.
Moreover, reports suggest that the Trump administration has reached out to other African leaders, encouraging them to accept deportees in situations where their home countries refuse to take them back. However, officials from Liberia have denied receiving such requests from the US, raising questions about the diplomatic dynamics at play. As this situation evolves, Nigeria maintains a focus on prioritizing its national interests amid increasing pressure from international counterparts.
